‘Someone like a Middlesbrough’ could pounce on Hull City woes to secure transfer, says pundit

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Middlesbrough fans are still waiting for their club to make a senior signing this summer.

This time last year, Boro already had a couple of new names through the door, including central midfielder Aidan Morris.

Middlesbrough have completed transfers recently, but both new additions have linked up with the club’s U21 team.

Instead, the focus at the Riverside Stadium has largely been on outgoings, with Josh Coburn joining Millwall and Hayden Hackney changing agents ahead of his exit.

But the Teessiders have now been backed to take advantage of Hull City’s transfer embargo and sign one of their targets.

Middlesbrough backed to make Louie Barry transfer move

Hull can sign free agents and complete loan deals, but permanent deals for a transfer fee are still off the cards.

Before news of the embargo broke, it was reported that the Tigers were set to sign Louie Barry from Premier League outfit Aston Villa in a deal worth £3.5m.

That deal, at least for now, can’t be completed, and Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has been discussing where the Villa gem could end up instead.

Hendrie mooted Middlesbrough, West Brom and Birmingham City as potential destinations for the attacker when speaking to Football League World.

He said: “I think with this deal at Hull, the breakdown might be down to wages, the transfer fee, and this is the problem most Championship clubs are going to struggle to contend with.

“If you’re looking at clubs that might hijack this then you’re probably looking at the top end of the Championship, someone like a Middlesbrough.

“West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City have also been linked; a number of clubs that have got stacks of potential, money to really spend this season – that’ll be the clubs that will probably be looking to hijack this deal.

“I think they should. Louie Barry is a fantastic player, he’s shown that jumping down the leagues at Stockport. I know taking that step up at Hull and getting injured was a bit of a backwards step, but he’s got stacks of abilities, plays in a number of positions, in a number 10, out wide, and through the middle.

“So I think it will be appealing to most of the top-end Championship clubs to hijack this deal.”

Louie Barry stats

Barry had two separate loan spells during the 2024/25 season, beginning the campaign in League One with Stockport County.

The 22-year-old scored 15 goals and assisted three in 23 league matches before he was recalled in January.

Barry then signed for Hull, but after zero goals and assists in his first four matches, he suffered an injury that kept him out for the remainder of the campaign.

The Villa youngster is primarily a left winger but can also play up front, meaning even if Rob Edwards decides to deploy a back-five with no out-and-out wingers, he could have a place up top for the Reds.